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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Lewis Smith" <cepremol@cepremol.com.br>
Reply-To: smithlewis665@aol.co.uk
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 15:39:02 +0000
Subject: Kind Request

My name is Lewis Smith, a European merchant, I have been diagnosed with Prostate and Esophageal cancer that was discovered very late due to lack of caring for my health. It has defiled all form of medicine and right now so I have only got about a few months to live according to medical experts. I believe the lord is giving me a second chance so I want to help those I can since my family will not let me make right due to their greed. I need your help/assistance to make some donation (US$8,200,000.00)in your country. Please reply to my private email address (smithlewis665@aol.co.uk)

Be blessed my beloved,
Lewis Smith

Anti-fraud resources: